Author: petebeck3

Pete Beck III ministered as a pastor and Bible teacher in Burlington for over 35 years. He is married to Martha, with whom he has four children, ten beautiful grandchildren, and five amazing great grandchildren. He ministers in his local church as a Bible teacher and counselor. He has written several books, including two that are available on Amazon - Seeing God's Smile and Promise of the Father - as well as a wide variety of Bible-related articles.

Be Ambassadors for God’s Kingdom

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Obedience to the Great Commission transforms us into official ambassadors from God’s kingdom who speak for God.

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19  For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20  So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (NLT)

Jesus was the model ambassador for the kingdom of God. How Jesus connected with people was truly amazing. It is well known that the most unlikely people loved him; while, religious sorts despised him. Why was this? How was he able to set a very high bar regarding ethical and moral conduct; yet, those whose morals and ethics were lacking were often very comfortable in his presence?

The message God has given us as ambassadors of his kingdom is a gracious invitation to be restored to a right relationship to him.

Although there is a proper time and way to fearlessly confront sin, the kingdom message is essentially conciliatory, at least to those whose hearts are open.

Those whose hearts are open will understand and respond. Those whose hearts are closed will resist.

Ambassadors are known for their wisdom and tact. They often face hostile officials and must counter their aggression and resistance with words that can defuse a explosive situation and move people to accepting his government’s proposals. This is very similar to how we should engage people with the gospel.

By nature, we tend to resist truth, especially when it exposes our sin. Denial is part of the human condition. People without God live in darkness, resist truth, and need the Holy Spirit’s assistance in coming to the light.

The Holy Spirit works inside people while we engage them externally. Our words and behavior can either help or hinder the process. We do not want to distract people away from the words of the gospel and what the Spirit is doing inside them by acting unwisely. For some of us this comes naturally, but for others it takes focused determination and commitment.

The gospel is difficult enough to accept without our making it harder by being unnecessarily offensive.

A great example of being tactful is found in the following passage. The Canaanite woman who asked Jesus to heal her daughter was initially rebuffed by the Lord, as we may be by those with whom we share. The woman asked Jesus to set her daughter free from demonic oppression. Our Lord seemed to close the door on her request, but she refused to give up.

He [Jesus] answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25  But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26  And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27  She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28  Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. Matthew 15:24-28 (ESV)

This woman was an outsider, a Canaanite, with no inherent right to God’s kingdom through Abraham. She approached the Lord in humility and desperation, but he apparently turned her away. Right there is where the tact of an ambassador was needed. Instead of giving up or going off in a huff, she humbly pressed the issue. Getting help for her daughter superseded everything else. She resolutely countered what Jesus said with words of wisdom and faith. Jesus saw her heart and faith and compassionately responded. It is reasonable for us to assume that Jesus was simply testing her resolve, wanting her to press through to get what she desired.

Sometimes we must be like that woman and humbly press through the resistance we encounter when sharing the gospel.

When people resist our message, we need to listen to the Spirit for the right words that may overcome their hostility. People need to know that we are not arrogant or self-righteous, as are many who name the name of Christ. Instead we want them to see that we are truly concerned about their well-being.

Words of wisdom can open hearts and defuse negativity.

I have watched this happen many times, but only if we are not easily offended or taken aback. Love presses on.

Missional churches commit to training their members how to be proper ambassadors for God’s kingdom, who use wisdom, grace, and tact, and relying on the Holy Spirit to lead the way.

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Become Gospel Fluent

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Missional churches not only teach their people to accept responsibility for sharing the gospel and making disciples, we also prioritize equipping their people to be “gospel fluent.”

The gospel properly shared has the power to save people.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." Romans 1:16-17 (NASB)

We do not want to alter it in any way. If we want to see the promised results, we should apply ourselves to studying how God presents the gospel in scripture and teach our people to do the same.

Many of us are not clear regarding exactly what is the gospel and how to share it properly. Modern evangelistic campaigns have tried to streamline the gospel message into something that can be easily remembered and quickly presented, but often at the expense of the beauty, breadth, depth, and impact of the true gospel. If we ask an average follower of Christ what they would tell a person who expresses a desire to become a follower of Christ, we would probably hear a response something like this. “Tell them to ask Jesus into their hearts.” If someone has already heard and understood the gospel message, this could be a proper next step, but it is not a good way to present the gospel. Others equate the gospel with the doctrine of justification by faith, but this is not the gospel. It is a wonderful benefit of believing the gospel.

What is the gospel?

Simply put, the gospel is the story of Jesus presented as an announcement of who he is, what he has done, and what he is going to do; all of which demands from us a response.

The appropriate one is to declare allegiance to him, receive the benefits he died and rose to give us, become his follower, and join his mission on the earth to go and make disciples.

John the Baptist was privileged to announce Jesus’ public ministry to Israel and the world. He told us four things about Jesus that are each important aspects of the gospel. Jesus is the Lamb of God, the Son of God, the Baptizer in the Spirit, and the coming glorious Son of Man. If possible, every gospel presentation should present Jesus this way and explain the meaning behind these four titles. (Click here to read more about this.)

  1. Jesus died for our sins as the Lamb of God to reconcile us to God the Father.
  2. Jesus rose from the dead in power as the Son of God, the messianic king, and the Lord of lords.
  3. As the Baptizer in the Spirit and the Lord of the harvest, Jesus ascended to the right hand of his Father in heaven and poured out his Spirit upon the church to equip and empower her to fulfill the Great Commission.
  4. One day our Lord will return in the clouds of heaven as the glorious Son of Man prophesied by Daniel. He will judge the living and the dead and rule over God’s eternal kingdom.

There are four books in the New Testament that are called gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. None of these are neatly organized theological summaries of the doctrinal implications of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. In them, Jesus is presented as an historical figure who fulfilled Old Covenant prophecies that God would rescue us from Satan’s dominion, bless the entire earth, rule forever as a king on David’s throne, be a prophet the likes of Moses, and come again in glory one day in the clouds as the divine and glorious Son of Man to judge the world in righteousness.

Each of the gospels presents Jesus in such a way that the reader is invited to recognize that he is indeed the Messiah promised by God, the one sent to die for our sins as God’s Lamb, who also rose from the dead as Lord of lords, and who is coming back again to rule the nations. The gospel invites people to surrender to Jesus the Lord and receive forgiveness of sins and life everlasting from Jesus the Savior. The gospel also invites every person to bow his or her knee to Jesus and join him in his worldwide missional enterprise. It is an invitation to be a disciple – a follower of Christ who fishes for people and teaches others to do the same.

Missional churches commit to training and equipping their people to share the gospel and to grow in confidence in their ability and responsibility to share it.

Missional churches expect their people to share the good news themselves, not simply bring people to church meetings to hear the pastor. Missional churches believe that sheep beget sheep, that disciples are competent to minister, and that the Holy Spirit is equipping, empowering, and leading the entire missional enterprise.

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Rely on the Holy Spirit

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We cannot fulfill the Great Commission or even develop a missional culture in our local churches without completely relying upon the Holy Spirit.

He alone can change hearts and make us willing and obedient to Christ’s mandate.

Christ’s lordship extends to all aspects of the church’s life and mission. One of his titles announced by John the Baptist is the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. 

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11 (NKJV)

Jesus taught his disciples that the Holy Spirit baptism is a necessity and a huge key to success in our pursuit of obedience to the Great Commission. 

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5  for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”… 8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:4-8 (ESV)

The Holy Spirit is our source of power and boldness for carrying out the church’s mission.  Receiving this baptism is part of what it means to surrender to Christ’s lordship.

Jesus operated in the power and gifts of the Spirit continually during his earthly ministry, which began officially at the synagogue in Nazareth.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19  to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19 (ESV)

Jesus only did what the Spirit showed him to do. He spoke the Words the Spirit gave him to speak. He wants us to do the same.

If we present the Gospel using only words, we will fail to communicate the fullness of God’s message, which comes in word and power.

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5  because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 (ESV)

The Holy Spirit is the power behind the authority and words of the gospel.

The wisdom and knowledge of the Spirit are also needed if we are going to minister as Jesus did. It is impossible to imagine our Lord’s ministry devoid of the prophetic element. How would he have captured the heart of the woman at the well in Samaria, if he had not told her the hidden truth about her five husbands? How would he have so quickly won over Nathanael, if he had not related that he had seen him by the Spirit standing under the fig tree? The Holy Spirit brings a spiritual element into our ministry, without which it is much more difficult, if not impossible, to go and make disciples.

We are not simply to argue and persuade that Jesus is Lord: we are to demonstrate his lordship by relying upon and expecting the Spirit of God to move in power through us.

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2  For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3  And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4  and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5  so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (ESV)

The early disciples were afraid of the Jews before they were baptized in the Spirit, but afterward boldly announced the gospel, even when threatened with persecution. Many of us are intimidated and sitting at home instead of going out into our communities to connect with our neighbors, make friends, and eventually make them into disciples. We need to receive the Spirit’s power and ability and realize that He is already working in the lives of those who live, work, and play around us.

Our job is to put ourselves in a position where the Spirit can use us. We never know what God may do.

This means we should be unafraid to ask God to demonstrate the truth of the gospel by extending his “hand” to heal the sick and set the captives free. The early church was filled with the Spirit and very bold in this regard. The Lord is the same.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)

The gospel has not changed. People’s need for a demonstration of God’s power still exists. Why is the church so reluctant to put ourselves forward in this regard? Have we been duped into thinking that Jesus is no longer working in this way, or are we afraid of looking foolish if nothing happens?

If we are to be used by God to demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit, we must be willing to look foolish. Only then may we see a miracle. God’s glory must become all to us. Our own reputation cannot be a concern.

If we are going to develop a culture of mission in our churches, we must acknowledge that Jesus is the Lord of the Harvest and the Baptizer in the Spirit.

Disciple making churches should encourage members to receive the baptism and gifts of the Spirit and become proficient in their use.

We should encourage our people to listen to and obey the voice and promptings of the Spirit every day as we mingle with those who need Jesus.

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Be an Answer to Prayer

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If we are to fulfill the great commission, we must become an answer to prayer.

Jesus understood that the task of reaching harassed and helpless people who are separated from God is great. He also realized that his time here on earth was short and his personal ministry was limited in scope by the fact that he could only be in one place at a time. He asked his disciples to pray that God would raise up more workers to join him in the harvest field.

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38  therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38 (ESV)

The beginning of the larger answer to this prayer occurred on Pentecost Sunday when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples, thereby launching the church’s apostolic / missionary efforts in the world. After the Holy Spirit filled multitudes of his disciples, Jesus’ ministry was greatly expanded, as it continues to this day, but there is still a great need for more workers to respond to his prayer.

By context, in the above passage we understand that Jesus asked God to send people with a shepherd’s heart to help the harassed and helpless who fill our communities. Many of us think that gifted evangelists are the ones who bear the responsibility for bringing in the harvest, but this is not what Jesus prayed.

The Holy Spirit is raising up an army of compassionate people who have the Great Shepherd’s heart to enter the world of lost and hurting with an invitation to be reconciled to God.

In their desperation, many lost and hurting people cry out to God for help. I have knocked on more than one door to discover that the resident had been praying for God to send someone to them. What a privilege it is to be the answer to someone’s prayer! What a responsibility we have when we ask God to raise up laborers in the harvest. Why would we imagine that we are not among those who are called to join him in the work? It is one thing to pray, but quite another to obey.

If our prayers for the lost do not result in our entering the harvest field, we only may be playing at church.

Will you be an answer to prayer? Will you respond to God’s call? Will you enter the harvest field?

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8 (ESV)
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Seeing with the Shepherd’s Eyes

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One of the most important qualities needed by those who wish to “fish” for people and make disciples is have the heart and eyes of a shepherd.

We need not be dynamic evangelists, but just people who care about people.

Jesus said:

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ Matthew 13:15 (NLT)

How we see is a function of the condition of our hearts. Hearts filled with compassion see people quite differently from the way hardhearted people look at others.

Mission begins when we understand and embrace Christ’s Great Commission. It gains motivation and momentum when our hearts are gripped by his compassion for the lost and hurting.

How Jesus saw people is recorded in Matthew’s Gospel.

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:35-36 (ESV)

As Jesus went (the “go” part of the Great Commission), he encountered people who were hungry for what he offered – the good news of God’s family and kingdom combined with forgiveness, healing, and deliverance.

We see that Jesus’ motivation for ministry was compassion for the lost and hurting masses, the harassed and helpless.

The Jewish leaders viewed the common folk as the great “unwashed,” ignorant and relatively worthless crowds, who were not really deserving of their energy and attention. Jesus, however, was willing to invest himself in the most unlikely of characters. He saw past their ignorance, sin, and failures right into their hearts. He offered them what they longed for – love, healing, forgiveness, and someone greater than themselves to follow and serve. If we inject ourselves into the lives of those who live around us, we will encounter the same sort of people.

God wants us to understand, as did Jesus, that every person has a story worth hearing and every life has untold value with God.

Our Lord also understood that he was sent precisely to those whom the Jewish leaders despised, the spiritually defiled and sick.

But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. Matthew 9:12 (NASB)

It is natural for us to desire to put some distance between ourselves and those who are very needy, but a shepherd goes after those who most need him or her. Harassed and helpless people often appear to have little to offer, but that does not deter a shepherd. The spiritually sick may drain our energy, resources, and time, but the potential reward is great. These are the people who may become the greatest advocates for Jesus and the most devoted disciples. Who could have guessed that the woman at the well in Samaria would lead an entire village to Christ?

A local church’s culture of evangelism and mission will be directly connected to its developing the ability to see people through the Great Shepherd’s eyes.

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The Great Commission

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The reason that we want to develop a culture of mission and evangelism in our churches is because that is God’s heart as revealed in the Great Commission and throughout Scripture. Jesus gave his church a clear mandate before he ascended to his Father.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

Until we adopt the great mission as our mission, we are missing the mark.

It is easy for the church to substitute any number of good things for the great commission. We can make great preaching and teaching our highest priority. If you ask average churchgoers why they like their churches, many will say that it is the great preaching. Many churches opt for community service, potlucks, worship, prayer, you name it… anything but sharing the gospel and making disciples.

A sure fire way to arouse the devil’s resistance, including that which comes from some church  members, is to advocate for the centrality of the great commission.

Generally, we do not want to leave the comfortable confines of our church culture to pursue those who do not know Christ yet.

It is not enough to simply adopt the value of mission as a subset of the church’s activity and effort. It must become the engine that pulls the train. Otherwise the great commission will always be an option instead of the priority.

The Genesis command to be fruitful and multiply has not been rescinded.

The “Go” of the Great Commission

Most people want to stay put and enjoy the benefits of being part of a local church, which are many. The fellowship is wonderful. There is comfort in knowing that the people around us are like-minded servants of Jesus. It is great to be enveloped in a culture that fosters sound biblical thinking and values.

The result is that many Christians adopt a fortress mentality in which we try to wall out the world and its negative influences. In this scenario, mission devolves into inviting people to enter the fort and become part of the enclave.

But this is not obedience to the first part of the Great Commission, which is “Go.” Jesus told his disciples that he was sending us into the world.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” John 20:21 (ESV)

Going requires us to leave our comfort and safety zones and venture into the sometimes hostile world of those who do not know Christ.

For Abraham it meant leaving property, family, friends, culture, and familiar “gods” to serve the one true God in an unknown as yet place. It meant going by faith without the benefit of a well-designed plan or end game. All he had was the command to go coupled with a promise, and he went.

Jesus emphasized the “Go” when he taught the parable of the shepherd who left the 99 sheep to go after the lost one. He emphasized the “Go” when he prayed that the Father would send laborers into the harvest. Why then do we find it so difficult to go?

Going requires sacrifice, courage, faith, and a willingness to suffer and endure uncertainty, inevitable disappointment and setbacks, heartbreak, loss, and enormous challenges. Some of the people we “go” to will not appreciate it. Some will be hostile. However, some will be forever grateful, which makes it all worthwhile. More importantly, Jesus will be pleased and honored, and we will accrue eternal reward.

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30  who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 (ESV)

The going of mission is both the most rewarding thing you will ever do and the most challenging and costly.

That is why many of us shy away from obedience to the Great Commission. Jesus called it “falling away.”

And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. Mark 4:17 (ESV)

If we fall away from obedience to the mission in times of peace, what will happen to us when persecution arrives? In fact, does not the proper preaching of the gospel and obedience to the Great Commission actually invite persecution? Paul wrote:

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)

Perhaps the lack of persecution in our nation today betrays our lack of commitment to the Great Commission.

Making Disciples

The second part of the Great Commission is making disciples. There is a huge difference between a disciple and a mere churchgoer; although, disciples definitely have a strong commitment to the church.

Going to church meetings requires a relatively small commitment, but being a disciple means that we make the ultimate commitment to Christ and his mission.

So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33 (ESV)

Jesus violated just about every church growth principle in this passage. He comes across rather negatively, repeating the phrase, “cannot be my disciple,” three times. It is as if he were trying to weed out anyone who would not make the necessary commitment. The “leaven” of partial commitment is contagious, especially if leaders are infected with it. He did not tell us to try following him as best we can in the hope that gradually we might be able to become more committed. He encouraged us to become fully committed to him.

Although some move toward greater and greater commitment over a lifetime, the reverse is often the case. People can easily “backslide” from their initial devotion because the cost becomes greater than the price they are willing to pay.

Being a disciple means that we commit to Jesus the Lord as a person. We submit to his rule in our lives through obedience to his teachings and to the indwelling Holy Spirit. This will lead us to obedience to the Great Commission, which lays upon us the task of teaching others to be disciples who will also make disciples. Therefore, in order to create a missional culture in a local church, a commitment must be made by leaders and the flock to develop disciple-making disciples. In other words, we will prioritize duplicating themselves in the lives of others.

Churches that commit to making disciples will examine their values, priorities, and programs… everything… in light of whether or not it advances making disciples.

Disciple making is much more than giving lectures at church meetings. It involves one-on-one and one-on-few instruction and mentoring. It includes demonstrations of how to do ministry, followed by giving disciples the opportunity to put into practice what was learned with follow up instruction as needed.

The goal of discipleship is to produce a practitioner, not a mere theologian, churchgoer, or moral paragon.

Churches that commit to creating a missional culture will devote their energy, talent, time, and resources to pursuing the Great Commission.

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Introduction to Developing a Culture of Mission in the Local Church

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The Great Commission deserves our full attention. It should be a top priority for the local church to develop a culture of mission. Here’s a novel idea that might shock some church growth proponents.

What works is not always what is best.

For example, advertisers know that sex sells products. If they can create the impression that using their product will enhance your sex life, they know we may be induced to purchase it. This is an easily recognizable ad strategy, but we still fall for it. What may not be so easy to discern is when local churches adopt methods that prey upon our human fleshly tendencies. It may be nearly impossible for us to see clearly how our own culture impacts the church because we think our culture is normal.

Modern churches are more greatly influenced by consumerism than we imagine.

Even how we measure success may be culturally driven. Since the advent of the church growth movement, success is largely measured in numbers of people in attendance. Secondary success factors may be facilities, income, and internet presence and reach. Using these metrics, leaders are under intense pressure to draw and keep ever increasing numbers of people in attendance.

If our goal is simply to draw people to our meetings, we may (must?) adopt the strategy of providing what people want,  perhaps at the expense obeying Christ and giving them what they truly need.

Modern American Christians have been conditioned by the culture and by the church itself to view the church experience through the eyes of consumers. We “shop” churches using consumerist criteria, sometimes looking for the one that provides the best value in exchange for whatever level of commitment we are willing to make. This is how consumers are trained to think. Those so influenced by the culture tend to measure a church’s desirability or value by the main speaker’s abilities, the worship experience, the programs for children and other social sub-groupings, and the general “presentation,” which includes facilities, audio-visual, and professionalism. Attenders of smaller churches are not immune and may also be consumers looking for a different product. They may put experiencing a sense of family near the top of their list. Of course, none of the above are “wrong.” In fact, we hope that all of our churches do their best to be attractive, but never in subservience to consumerism or at the expense of making disciples. Perhaps surprisingly, however, none of the criteria listed above is actually a “right” reason for joining a church.

Logically, the means by which we attract people to our churches is how we must strive to keep them, unless we can move them away from consumerism to a discipleship orientation to life and ministry.

If we allow that church leaders who use consumerist strategies have the best of intentions, we can believe that their reason for doing so is to simply have an opportunity to influence the greatest number of people. Their thinking is that if people  are not attracted to church meetings, they will never hear the truth of the gospel. Some churches use this strategy to gain a great number of conversions, but bringing a person to Christ is only the first step. After a fish is caught, it must be cleaned. This brings us to discipleship.

The opposite of consumerism is discipleship.

The cost of discipleship actually tends to sift people out of the local church because it requires so much from us.

A disciple-making church will adopt an equipping model for ministry, the goal being to equip the people to do ministry on their own outside the four walls of the meeting place.

Adopting missional strategies to equip and launch followers of Christ into evangelism and disciple-making ministries will run counter to what our consumer culture wants, but it will satisfy Christ’s Great Commission mandate, bring glory to God, and end up bringing fulfillment to individuals.

The next several articles will look at ways we can develop a missional culture in our churches.

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Spiritual Transformation

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Spiritual transformation is a priority with God.

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:29 (NLT)

In addition to exalting his Son as Lord of Lords, Father God’s is working to transform us into Christ’s image. Christ is the exact representation of the Father; so, Father is committed to the process of gradually making us more and more like himself while we live here on the earth. When Jesus returns, the transformation will be instantaneous and complete when we receive our new resurrection bodies.

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53  For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54  When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55  “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 (ESV)

Every day we are challenged to interact with God’s Spirit, the Scriptures, and other believers as he works from the inside out to make us more like Jesus.

Each day presents us with choices and opportunities to avail ourselves of the grace that is available to us in Christ. (2 Peter 1:3-8)

Each of us has what the Bible calls the “old man” or the “flesh,” which is the residue from the corrupt sin nature inherited from Adam. When we are born again, our spirits are transformed and joined to God’s Spirit, giving us the internal desire to love and serve God; however, the residual “flesh,” which is connected to the sin cursed pre-resurrection body, retains its antipathy towards God and his will, setting up within us a spiritual struggle that will continue until the resurrection. (Galatians 5:17 – I have written extensively about this elsewhere. If you wish to read more, click here.)

None of us is able to transform ourselves.

Misguided attempts to do so always result in the frustration of legalism. However, we do have a responsibility in the matter to cooperate with the Spirit and be open to correction from the Word of God and our brothers and sisters. This presupposes membership in a local church where we allow ourselves to be known by others and not just hide out in meetings where we can remain anonymous. (You can read more about our responsibility in spiritual transformation by clicking here.)

Ministers also are responsible before God to participate in this process. Paul told Timothy, his disciple:

Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2 (NLT)

Those who are wise will listen and respond.

God is also fully involved through a process called discipline. Like a good parent, he is committed to taking steps to insure that his children develop into responsible mature adults. God’s discipline can be minor or major. That is up to him. We should never presume that he will not play “hardball” with us. (Hebrews 12:5-13)

Spiritual transformation is designed to maximize God’s glory and our happiness.

God is glorified when his people reflect his character. Our joy is made complete as we become more and more like our Creator – Sustainer – Redeemer.

The missional church is committed to teaching, encouraging, and participating in this process with an attitude of love, patience, and mercy combined with a firm commitment to truth, while avoiding even a hint of legalism. (Ephesians 4:14-16)

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Spiritual Disciplines

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Spiritual disciplines are an often neglected part of discipleship. I will highlight four in this article: prayer, fasting, alms giving, and service. It should be clearly understood that these disciplines do not earn or maintain for us a right standing with God. That comes by faith in Christ’s finished work, through which his right standing with God becomes our own.

Spiritual disciplines are God-given ways for us to connect with God’s heart in a greater way, which makes us more receptive to the indwelling Spirit’s voice and direction. The more we get in step with the Spirit, the more we grow and thrive as disciples.

Prayer

When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6  But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:5-6 (NLT)

Prayer is a lifeline with God. It can be broken down into four types of prayer: worship, thanksgiving, petition, and intercession.

Worship opens the door for us to get in sync with God’s heart and purposes. As we focus and delight in the Lord, we grow in faith and gain his perspective, which helps us pray in line with his will. When we do that, we can be assured that our prayers will be effective. (1 John 5:14-15)

Thanksgiving is closely aligned with worship. Whereas worship focuses on God’s person, character, power, and worthiness; thanksgiving is the way we consciously and deliberately remember and show our gratitude for his many mercies and blessings. Being thankful is perhaps the most important character quality a person can have. Developing a habit of thankfulness is a primary concern for growth as a disciple. (Philippians 4:6)

Every healthy relationship involves conversational give and take. If all we do is talk during prayer and ask God for things, we miss out on a most important element of petitionary prayer – listening to God. We all have needs and desires, but not all of them are God’s best for us. If we learn to delight in him first, he will fulfill our deepest longings. (Psalm 37:4)

Intercessory prayer is when we go to bat for someone else. God loves his people to take on a Spirit inspired prayer burden for other people and the things God wants and plans to do on the earth. Jesus continually makes intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25) and delights when we join him in that ministry.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)

 

Fasting

And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17  But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18  Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18 (NLT)

Good things happen when we fast; even though, it may not always seem so initially. Fasting can be done in any number of ways, from complete abstinence from food and water to some more specific sort of fast, such as limiting oneself to liquids only. Fasts can be for any duration.

The important thing with fasting is to be led by the Spirit and use the fast to set aside time to focus on and listen to God through praying and reading the Scriptures.

Sometimes fasts are directed toward a specific purpose, such as asking God for direction at a particularly confusing, difficult, or important crossroad in life. At other times, we may fast simply to draw closer to God. Fasting shows that we value God more than food itself. It is a way for us to deny ourselves in order to pursue God. As with prayer, we do not gain or maintain our right standing with God through this discipline. It is a matter of the heart.

While fasting sometimes we clearly hear God’s voice. At other times, we may seem to receive nothing. We may receive a spiritual breakthrough that may be accompanied by spiritual warfare, as God opens a door for us that Satan seeks to block. Remember that Jesus encountered severe temptations just as he completed a long fast. After conquering those temptations, he launched his public ministry.

Alms Giving

Giving is a very important part of discipleship. Jesus warned his followers that we must give up all we have to be his disciple. (Luke 14:33) Tithing was an old covenant concept that continues to be practiced by many disciples today. Generally it is understood that tithing involves giving ten percent of our “increase” or income to God. Usually this is done through the local church. The idea is that the tithe is not ours to direct; so, we put it into the hands and under the authority of church leadership.

Alms giving is when we freely give beyond the tithe at our own discretion to whatever or whomever the Spirit directs.

Jesus advocated giving to the poor, as does the Bible in general. In the Sermon on the Mount, he elevated it to the same level as prayer and fasting.

Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2  When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3  But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4  Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:1-4 (NLT)

If we are going to be disciples after Jesus’ heart, we will ask the Spirit to develop in us a generosity toward the poor combined with wisdom in how to give without inadvertently causing more harm. (See When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.) God promises that the generous will receive abundant blessings in return.

Serving

Serving is one of the hallmarks of true discipleship. Jesus taught his followers to elevate servanthood to an exalted status in the kingdom of God.

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26  But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27  and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 (NLT)

I included serving as a spiritual discipline because serving does not come naturally to most of us. It must be cultivated and deliberately pursued. Growth as a disciple can be measured in terms of how willing we are to serve others. All ministry is service, and, when we serve others, Jesus taught us that we are actually serving him.

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:40 (NLT)
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Teaching Basic Life Skills

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Due to the breakdown of the family and society in general, it has become necessary to teach some basic life skills to our disciples.

They arrive at our churches having never seen or experienced a biblical family structure, learned personal discipline, acquired some social skills, or known how to manage finances, a home, or a business.

Discipleship builds the whole person; so, remediating these deficiencies is important.

Every person is unique; so, I believe we should use a diagnostic and prescriptive approach for each individual. Over time it will become apparent to the disciple maker what areas needs to be shored up. Diagnosis can happen quickly by using precise questions and gradually over time by observation. Once we know what needs to be taught and demonstrated, we can begin the personal remediation process.

As with all discipleship, life change happens through personal devotion to God, interaction with others, sound teaching, and practical application with feedback.

Discipline is a huge key to success in life. When a disciple maker encounters a lack of this in a disciple, it should be addressed. Discipline can only be encouraged, not mandated, but those who show little or no interest or progress in this area disqualify themselves from further development and should not be allowed to absorb too much time from the disciple maker. Those who have never been part of a biblical family situation, with a loving father and mother both being present, should be invited to participate at some level in a healthy family dynamic. Those who grew up in broken families may never have seen a good marriage. They should be exposed to couples who have exemplary marriages. In addition, foundational teaching on the subject can be shared one-on-one or in groups.

The absence or ignorance of basic etiquette and social skills can hold people back in a big way and should be addressed by the mentor. The same is true when a lack of understanding of how to budget and handle finances rears its head, and likewise regarding skills in how to run a family or operate a business.

This aspect of discipleship can provide an avenue of service for those in the church who may not be motivated or gifted to teach the Bible, but who have a wealth of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom in practical matters.

Each person in the church is capable of being part of the discipleship making network of resources.

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